Automatic lock slider for slide fasteners



A. M. BROWN AUTOMATIC LOCK SLIDER FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Filed Oct. 19, 1945 June 13, 1950 III/111M100,

IIAEMIM 10 A 111 19 16 3229 20 g ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1950 AUTOMATIC LOCK SLIDER FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Alexander M. Brown, Colonia, N. J., assignor to The North & Judd Manufacturing Company, New Britain, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application October 19, 1945, Serial No. 623,204

7 Claims.

This invention relates to slide fasteners and, in particular, to the provision of new and improved lock sliders therefor.

It is an object of this invention to provide such a new and improved lock slider construction embodying new and improved automatically operating locking means utilizing a long soft lock actuating spring in such manner as to utilize the resiliency of substantially the entire length of the spring to achieve soft, easy, and convenient operation.

It is a furtherobject of this invention to provide such a construction embodying means for confining such a lock actuating spring without impairment of its resilience by reason of the freedom afforded thereto, despite its confinement against endwise displacement.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a slider construction which is cheap, simple, easy to assemble and extremely durable and which is capable of construction in various materials and by various known methods.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a construction embodying a spring cover, hollow lug, or housing readily and convenientl attachable to the body of the slider, which cover, lug, or housing protects the lock actuating spring and retains or confines it in position, while also retaining the pull-tab in position wherein its trunnions are disposed between the slider body proper and the lock actuating spring.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such-a slider construction embodying locking means controlled by a conventional type pull tab or pull member wherein the locking means controls or inhibits swinging of the pull tab.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken with the accompanying drawing which forms a, part thereof, and will be pointed out in the following claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly cut away, of a slide fastener including, as a part thereof, an automatic lock slider embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the slider shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating the manner in which the component parts are assembled and attached;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section, taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 1, and showing the parts in locking position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in unlocked position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form of slider according to this invention, with the fastener stringers omitted in the interest of clearness; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of a second modification according to this invention.

Fig. 1 of the drawing illustrates the application of one preferred form of slider, according to this invention, to a slide fastener comprising a pair of similar stringers of which the right hand stringer is generally designated 8 and the left hand stringer is generally designated 1. Each stringer comprises a textile or other flexible tape or carrier 9 having an edge reinforcement ill at its inner edge and a row of similar equally spaced interlocking fastener members, scoops or elements l l secured thereto in suitable known manner as by clamping, casting, molding or by an adhesive, depending upon the materia1 of which the interlocking members or elements are formed. Adjacent the interlocking members or scoops II, the reinforced inner edges of the tapes are connected by a bottom stop or bottom end fitting l2 of known form. A top stop I4 of known form is attached to each reinforced inner tape edge in known manner.

Supported for sliding movement along the rows of fastener members or scoops II, to an extent limited by the bottom stop I! and top stops I4, is a slider 15 constructed according to this invention, the slider I5 being provided with a manually engageable finger piece or pull tab I6 for convenience of operation.

The fastener is opened by manually moving the slider downwardly toward the bottom stop l2 and closed by moving the slider 15 in the reverse direction, upwardly toward the top stops M. This closing and opening of the fastener is effected through progressive engagement and disengagement of the fastener members of scoops ll of the stringers I and 8 by the cam portion of the slider IS, in a manner well known in the art.

In each form of slider shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, a ratcheting" operation occurs when the slider is drawn upwardly on the stringers I and 8 to a locking position since the yielding nature of the locking spring or locking member permits the inclined lower edge surface of the locking projection to ride over the interlocking members, elements, or scoops engaged thereby during this movement. The lower, lateral, rear edge surface of the locking projection, because 3 of its shape, obstructs accidental movement of the slider to an opening position because of its engagement with fiat, or substantially flat surfaces of the fastener members, elements or scoops, as shown in Fig. 3. When, however, tension is applied to the manually engageable pull member or pull tab IS, the locking projection is moved outwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, to clear the fastener member or scoop guiding channels for the slider for free relative endwise movement between the fastener members or scoops and the slider or slider body.

While various attempts have been made, in prior constructions, to secure the advantages of a relatively long, soft spring, for actuating the locking projection, such attempts have, heretofore, failed to provide a construction, such as those herein illustrated, wherein substantially all of the length of such a spring member is utilized to actuate the locking projection, where such spring member is substantially co-extensive with the length of the slider, and where substantially the entire length thereof is unconfined, even though relative longitudinal or endwise movement between the actuating spring member and the slider body be prevented. Furthermore, such prior art lock sliders were generally of complicated construction, wherein the parts were difficult to assemble and attach to- I gether into a unitary structure.

The above disadvantages of the prior art construction are totally obviated, according to this invention, wherein the slider comprises a body of relatively simple form capable of being cast,

molded or forged, one wing of which body is provided with a locking projection confining aperture or apertures receiving and guiding a locking projection or projections formed integrally with a resilient or yielding spring or actuating member of simple, cheap, form.

The trunnion portion of a pull member or pull tab is disposed between the aforesaid spring and the outer surface of the slider body, and the aforesaid locking means, including the spring and projection, are enclosed in a hollow lug or housing of simple form readily and conveniently formed and attached to the slider body for protecting the locking means both physically and functionally.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be seen from Fig. 2 that the slider I comprises a body I! formed by a rear wing l8 and front wing I9, each wing being provided with side flanges 20, and connected at the upper end by a neck or wedge portion (Figs. 3 and 4) preferably formed integrally with wings l8 and IS. The cam-like neck or wedge portion 20a forms with the wide flanges 20 a substantially Y-shaped upwardly diverging channel for guiding the fastener members, elements or scoops H of the stringers 1 and 8 into and out of engagement when the slider is moved upwardly or downwardly upon the stringers.

The slider front wing 19 is shown as provided with a single locking projection receiving and guiding aperture 2| disposed in suitable location for guiding the illustrated locking projection or looking prong into and out of the locking engagement with the interlocking members or scoops in the slider channel to lock and unlock the slider, as will hereinafter most clearly appear. At each end the front wing I9 is also provided with a suitable recess 22 adapted to receive end or attaching tabs on the lug or locking member housing, as will hereinafter appear.

The finger piece, pull member or pull tab l6 comprises a plate-like member provided with a suitable aperture 23 adjacent its inner end which forms the trunnion or trunnions 24. This member l6 may be formed in various ways and by various known methods, depending upon the material from-which it is constructed.

The locking spring in the form shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 comprises an elongated looped fiat spring member 25 having its forward or upper end 26 and its rear or lower end 21 extending upwardly or outwardly with a central or intermediate loop or loop portion 23 intermediate the aforesaid end portions and two oppositely disposed loops. This lock actuator spring 25 has a locking prong or locking proiection 29 formed integrally therewith and bent down from one side thereof at substantially a right angle.

The locking projection or locking prong 29 has a straight forward edge surface 39, a similar rear edge surface 3|, and an inclined inner end or end edge surface 32. The forward and rear edge surfaces 30 and 3| are closely engaged and guided by the end surfaces of the aperture or slot 2| for prevention of relative endwise movement of the projection or prong 29 with respect to the slider body. The aperture or slot 2| also guides this locking prong or projection 29 against transverse movement with respect to the slider by closely engaging the fiat side surfaces thereof, thus confining the movement of the locking prong or projection 29 to linear movement inwardly and outwardly of the slider for projection into, and withdrawal of the inner end thereof from, the fastener member or scoop guiding channel of the slider.

This confinement of the movement of the looking prong to the aforesaid linear movement, and against transverse or longitudinal movement with respect to the slider, is accomplished entirely without confinement of the spring proper 25 intermediate its end portions 29 and 21.

Support of these end portions 26 and 21 is accomplished by the end walls of the lug or spring housing which is generally designated 33. In the form shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, this lug or housing 33 is a hollow box-like structure provided with an elongated, substantially rectangular, outer or front wall 34, similar and obverse side walls 35, and downwardly or inwardly extending upper end wall 36 and lower end wall 31. The side walls are both provided with similar trunnion guiding apertures or openings 38 through which the trunnion 24 of the pull member or tab it extends, beneath the intermediate loop portion 23 of the spring member 25, as shown in Fig. 3.

The end walls 38 and 31 of the lug or housing 33 are preferabl of such length and width as to be capable of having their end portions 35a and 31a bent over into the aforementioned recesses 22 in the front wing ll! of the slider body, as shown Fig. 3, in such manner as to provide a flush structure.

While thespring 25 has been illustrated as provided with a single locking prong or projection 29 engaging the scoops of a single stringer, these members 29 may be multiplied and offset to engage the scoops of both stringers simultaneously in a manner well known in the art.

In assembling the parts of the slider shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the forward and rear end portions 26 and 2'! of the spring member 25 are pushed upwardly into the interior of the lug 33, whereupon they closely engage the inner surface of the front wall 34 thereof, whereupon the trunnion 24 of the pull member or tab I6 is engaged in the inner portion of the intermediate loop 28 of the spring member 25, which loop registers with the apertures or openings 38 in the side walls 35. The lug is then pressed home whereupon the end portions of the end walls 36 and 31 will be disposed in and adjacent the above-described recesses 22 in the front wing IQ of the slider body. The extreme end portions 36a and 31a of the end walls 36 and 31 are then bent toward one another, substantially at a right angle from the end walls 36 and 31 into the recesses 22, to form a flush structure, as shown in Fig. 3.

As will readily appear from Fig. 3, the lock actuator or spring 25 normally yieidingly urges or biases the locking prong or projection 29 toward locking position wherein it is interlockingly engaged between adjacent interlocking members or scoops of the left hand stringer 8. The trunnion 24 of the pull member I6 is then retained between the intermediate loop portion 28 of the spring 25 and the outer surface of the front wing IQ of the slider body.

The looseness of this retentive connection depends upon the arc of the intermediate loop portion 28, which may be varied to provide for any desired degree of free swinging movement of the pull member or tab I6. Most preferably, the arc of the loop portion 28 is predeterminedly designed to exert a braking action upon the trunnion 24 in order that objectionable free swinging or dangling of the pull member or tab I6 is prevented when the parts are in the locking position as shown in Fig. 3. If desired the trunnion 24 may be made non-circular or may be roughened .to enhance or increase this braking action.

This is an extremely meritorious feature since such free swinging and dangling of the pull tab is extremely undesirable, for instance, where slide fasteners are attached to sleeves of garments.

Unlocking of the slider may be accomplished by applying tension to the pull member or tab i6 in the appropriate direction, i. e. downwardly, of the fastener for opening the fastener or upwardly thereof to close the fastener.

Such applications of tension cause the trunnion 24 to cooperate with the under surface or inner surface of the loop portion 28 (which forms a cam or cam surface) to cause the locking prong or projection 29 to be lifted or drawn outwardly from engagement with the fastener members or scoops I I as shown in Fig. 4, against the yieldin force exerted thereon by the spring proper 25.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5 is generally similar to the above described embodiment of Figs. 2, 3 and 4, but the slider body, locking member (spring and projection) and lug or housing have been somewhat modified. In this embodiment of Fig. 5, the sidewalls 35 are omitted from the lug or housing 33a and slots or apertures 36b and 31b have been provided in the end walls thereof for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The loops have been omitted from the lock actuating spring 25a, which thus becomes of gently arcuate form, and bosses or bumps 25b are formed therein adjacent but inside each end wall 36 and 31 after assembly of the spring 25a to the lug or housing 33a. These projections or bosses 25b protect the slider against escape of the extreme end portions of the spring 25a from their retaining slots 36b and 31b in which they are supported, substantially without impairment of the resiliency or freedom of the spring 25a.

Since elimination of the loops from the spring 25a eliminated the cam or cam surface provided by the inner surface of the intermediate loop 28 of the spring, the function of this omitted cam is supplied by the longitudinal upstanding lug l9b formed on the front wing 29 and provided with a centrally disposed transversely extending cam notch or surface I receiving and supporting the trunnion 24 of the pull member of tab 16 beneath the spring 25.

In the embodiment of Fig. 6, the slider body is similar to'that of the embodiment of Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The spring 250 is flat except for the single loop 28a (generally similar both physically-and functionally with the intermediate loop 28 of spring or actuator). The lug or housing 33b is similar to the lug or housing 33 except that the top or outer wall 34!) is inclined or rounded at its end portions, and the end walls 36 and 31 eliminated except for the end portions 36b and 31b thereof the sidewalls 28b being modifled accordingly, and the trunnion retaining apertures or openings 36b therein are substantially rectangular. The sidewalls of these apertures exert no cam action or cam effect upon the trunnion 24 of the pull member or pull tab it.

The method of assembling the pull members or pull tabs, hollow lugs or spring housings, locking means, and slider bodies of the embodiments of Figs. 5 and 6 is similar to that of the embodiment of Figs. 2, 3 and 4 described above and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from Figs. 5 and 6 when taken with the description of the assembly of the parts of the aforesaid embodiment of Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

From the above description it will clearly appear that I have provided a new and improved auto-lock slider for slider fasteners accomplishing, in addition to the above enumerated advantages, other objects and advantages apparent from the above description and the following claims.

It is, of course, to be understood that the above description is merely illustrative, and in nowise limiting, and that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as are included within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a slide fastener slider of the class described, a body having therein a fastener member guiding channel, said body being provided with an aperture extending from one side thereof into said channel, locking means comprising a resilient yielding flat-type spring member free of attachment to said body and having a locking projection intermediate its ends, said projection being confined in said aperture for movement into and out of said fastener member guiding channel, locking spring confining means on said body overlying said aperture and engaging both end portions of said resilient yielding spring member for restraining said end portions against endwise movement in either direction with respect to said body, and a pull member having a trunnion extending transversely of said body between said flat spring locking member and said body and directly engageable with both.

2. In a slide fastener slider of the class described, a body having therein a scoop guiding channel, said body being provided with an aperture extending from one side thereof into said channel, locking means comprising a resilient substantially flat yielding spring member of substantial length free of attachment to said body 1 and having a locking projection intermediate its ends extending substantially vertically from its general extent and confined in said aperture for movement into and out of said scoop guiding channel only, locking spring confining means on said body overlying said aperture and engaging at least one end portion of said spring member for restraining it against endwise movement,

said spring member normally biasing said locking projection toward movement-blocking engagement with scoops in said scoop guiding channel, and a manually engageable member having a portion extending between said locking member and said body and directly engageable with both, whereby tension applied to said manually engageable member will withdraw said locking projection fromengagement with said scoops to unlock said slider.

3. In a slide'fastener slider of the class described, a body having therein a scoop guiding channel and having an aperture extending from the front side thereof into said channel, locking means comprising an elongated substantially flat lock actuating leaf spring free of attachment to said body and having a locking prong intermediate its ends and confined in said aperture for movement into and out of said scoop guiding channel only, and means on said body overlying said aperture and engaging the end portions only of said lock actuating spring for restraining its end portions against endwise movement in either direction, said locking member confining means having openings accommodating the trunnion portion of a pull member, and a pull member having a trunnion extending through said openings and being disposed between said locking member and said body.

4. In a slide fastener slider of the class described, a body having therein an upwardly divergent longitudinal scoop guiding channel with a locking projection guiding opening extending from the front thereof into said channel, looking means comprising a longitudinally disposed leaf spring free of attachment to said body and substantially coextensive with said body and having an integral locking prong intermediate its ends, said locking prong being confined in said aperture for movement into and out of said scoop guiding channel only and being normally biased inwardly by said spring toward locking position, and a hollow lug on the front side of said body overlying said locking projection guiding opening and engaging both end portions only of said resilient yielding spring member for controlling the movement of said end portions, and lock controlling means comprising pull tab having a trunnion disposed between said spring and the front of said body and directly engageable therewith, said hollow lug having openings in itsside walls accommodating said trunnion for rotation and translation, said openings protecting said spring a ainst permanent set by limiting the movement of said trunnion.

5. The structure defined in claim 4, wherein said leaf spring is provided with two spaced inwardly extending loops engaging the front of said body and an intermediate connecting outwardly extending loop accommodating said trunnion, and wherein the ends of said spring are disposed closely adjacent the outer wall of said hollow ma.

6. The structure defined in claim 4, wherein said leaf spring is provided with an intermediate upwardly directed loop adjacent said locking prong yieldingly retaining said trunnion clampingly between said spring and the front of said body, said loop providing a cam surface translating longitudinal translation of said trunnion into outward lifting force applied through said spring to said locking prong for unlocking said slider.

7. In a slide fastener slider of the class described, a body having therein a fastener member guiding channel, said body being provided with an aperture extending from one side thereof into said channel, locking means comprising a resilient substantially flat elongated spring member free of attachment to said body and having a locking projection intermediate its ends, said projection being confined in said aperture for linear movement only into and out of said fastener member guiding channel, a pull tab for controlling said locking means including a trunnion secured between said spring member and said body and directly engageable with both and a protective housing secured to said body and overlying said locking means, said housing engaging the end portions only of said spring member, limiting endwise movement of said spring member, controlling movement of said trunnion and protecting said locking means from damage by crushing.

ALEXANDER M. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Winterhalter Apr. 10, 1945 

